Cabbage: Early for Summer, Late for Sauerkraut
1 min read By Екипът на Seeds
Early and late cabbages are sown at different times. A complete guide to seedlings, planting out and protection.
Early and late
Early cabbage is sown for transplants in February, planted out in March–April and harvested in June. Late cabbage (for sauerkraut) is sown in April–May directly in a seedbed and planted out in June–July; it is harvested in October–November.
Planting out
- Early: 40–50 cm apart.
- Late: 60–70 cm — the heads are large.
- Plant up to the first leaves — a stem buried more deeply strengthens the plant.
Protection
The cabbage white butterfly, flea beetles and aphids are the main enemies. Insect netting or fleece over hoops is the surest protection. Marigolds and dill between the rows attract beneficial insects.
Watering and harvest
Cabbage drinks a lot of water. Uneven watering — drought followed by heavy watering — splits the heads. Pick when the head is firm; for sauerkraut, let late cabbage catch the first light frost — it becomes sweeter.
Photo: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos, GFDL 1.2, Wikimedia Commons
